This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
Kenya Blocks 16 Citizens from Traveling Abroad Due to Tax Evasion ¶
As of February this year, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has blocked 16 Kenyan citizens from traveling abroad due to tax evasion, with a total of Sh9.2 billion in unpaid taxes.
The KRA has identified several sectors that have been evading taxes, including the retail, tourism, manufacturing, and electronics sectors.
According to the KRA, the retail sector has evaded taxes worth Sh40 billion, the construction sector Sh2.5 billion, the electronics sector Sh2 billion, and the manufacturing sector Sh300 million.
The KRA has also announced that it has lost Sh53 billion in tax revenue due to tax evasion.
David Yego, a KRA investigator, stated that the authority has the power to prevent individuals with tax debts from traveling abroad.
"We have the power to prevent individuals with tax debts from traveling abroad. This power helps in combating individuals who may evade taxes and travel abroad," Yego said.
Individuals who have been blocked from traveling abroad will be required to pay their tax debts before being allowed to travel.
